The Defectors (audio story)
The Defectors was the 198th story in Big Finish Productions' Doctor Who monthly range. The beginning of the "Locum Doctors" trilogy, it partnered the Seventh Doctor with Third Doctor companion Jo Grant.
Publisher's summary
Jo Grant is shocked to find most of her colleagues are missing. Then she discovers that the Doctor has inexplicably changed.
But there’s little time to worry about it all, as she and her misplaced Time Lord friend are whisked to the mysterious Delphin Isle on a matter of national security. There, they encounter a disturbingly odd form of local hospitality and learn of a highly classified incident that took place during the Cold War.
Why exactly have they been brought here? And what is the truth concerning the bodies in the harbour and the vast project being undertaken under a cloak of secrecy?
Plot
Part One
Jo Grant watches from a window at UNIT HQ as a helicopter lands. Thinking it might be the Brigadier, she calls out to the Doctor, who is in his laboratory. Upon hearing odd sounds from the TARDIS, she assumes that he is busy working on it. Jo notices a lot of soldiers coming out of the helicopter. As she still can't get any response from the Doctor, she decides to go talk to Mike Yates, who is standing in for the Brigadier, while he is in Geneva.
However, upon reaching his office, Jo is surprised to find Mike gone, and a Captain Cornelius in his place. Cornelius explains that Mike has been relieved of duty, and is now at a top level security briefing in London. All UNIT personnel have been evacuated from UNIT HQ and Cornelius has orders to take the Doctor and Jo to a secure location. As Jo proclaims that there's no way that they'll convince the Doctor to go along with it, she opens the door to leave the room, only to find the Doctor outside the room. However, instead of it being the Third Doctor, the Seventh Doctor is the one who is standing there.
Meanwhile, at an unknown location, Shedgerton is standing in some sort of daze, mumbling to himself. A group of soldiers approach him, led by Commander Wingford, who convinces the dazed and confused Shedgerton to return to the base with him, for a matter of national security.
Back at UNIT HQ, Jo questions the Doctor on what is going on. But, the Doctor is just as confused as she is, having no idea what has just happened. Jo suspects that it might be another incident, like the one where she met the First and Second Doctors, but now she's meeting a fourth Doctor. The Doctor reveals he is the seventh incarnation, and that none of his other selves are here. He has no idea what is going on, not even if it's interference from the Time Lords. Jo is suspicious now, questioning whether this strange man in front of her really is the Doctor.
Cornelius joins the conversation, somehow recognizing the Seventh Doctor. He tells the Doctor that he and Jo will be moved to a secure location. The Doctor asks Jo what is going on, but she has no idea. When the Doctor tries to object to being taken away, Cornelius' soldiers aim their guns at the duo, leaving them with no choice but to go along to the helicopter. As the two are taken away to the helicopter, Cornelius goes and confirms the location of the TARDIS.
The Doctor is curious what took Cornelius so long to join them in the helicopter, but he gets no answers. As the helicopter lifts off, Jo notices a lorry arriving at UNIT HQ. Upon question Cornelius, he decides it's time for hoods to be put on the two, so they can't see anything further.
Meanwhile, Shedgerton, still confused and dazed, is in his room at the base, when he is visited by Wingford. Wingford recommends for Shedgerton to go to Level Zero-One.
Back in the helicopter, three-and-a-half hours later, the Doctor wakes up Jo, who fell asleep. He predicts that they're about to land. His prediction is proven correct, as the helicopter lands a minute later. Jo is still suspicious of the Doctor, as he hasn't explained anything about his presence, but the Doctor has no explanation to give.
The hoods are removed from their heads, revealing that they are now on an island, somewhere. Cornelius leads them to a village on the island, where the two will spend the night at the pub called The Delphin Arms, before coming to the base the following morning. The Doctor finds this all suspicious, since he and Jo were urgently required to come to the island, but now their time is being wasted at a pub. Cornelius just states he's following Commander Wingford's orders.
Inside the pub, the Doctor reveals that he noticed that Cornelius was wearing makeup. The pub's owners, Claire and Jeremiah, welcome the two, having been expecting them. They reveal that the island is Delphin Island, before getting the two some beer.
Meanwhile, Cornelius is contacted by Wingford, who wants to know if the Doctor and Jo are happy. Cornelius reveals that the Doctor is suspicious of them, but Wingford is convinced that they'll be happier by tomorrow. Cornelius asks Wingford about what is going on in London, and Wingford reveals that all security protocols are still active and that they shouldn't have any trouble before they are ready. Wingford then asks for Cornelius to keep an eye on the pub.
Back in the pub, the Doctor and Jo find that the beer tastes horrible, and that the food is nothing more than canned food. They pretend to enjoy it to keep the pub owners at ease. After the meal, the two are taken upstairs to their bedrooms by Claire, who surprises them by referring to them by name, even though she didn't know their names earlier. The Doctor goes into his room, but Jo lingers outside for a little longer, having noticed that the bar has gone silent. Once inside her room, she pulls out a transceiver that she had concealed, and contacts Mike.
Meanwhile, Cornelius reports in to Wingford, who is monitoring the conversation between Jo and Mike. Mike has no idea what's going on, as he's been unable to get any answers, nor has he been able to contact the Brigadier. Before Jo can tell Mike much of anything, Wingford jams the signal. He's not worried, as he's sure the Doctor and Jo will adjust to being there.
Back in her room, Jo tries and fails to reestablish contact with Mike. The Doctor walks in, revealing that they were talking loud enough for him to hear from his room. Jo decides to question the Doctor on his identity and tests him. He answers all her questions correctly, but she is still not fully convinced. The Doctor and Jo leave the room to go investigate a few places.
Their investigation of the pub reveals that the food was indeed canned food, and that the beer was years old and would've probably killed them if they had drank the full pint they had been given. The two head to the harbor, to investigate the boats there. They sneak past the soldier standing guard outside the pub, but they notice he is acting oddly, just staring at nothing. Upon reaching the boats, they find something in the water. Looking closely, they realize that there are bodies in the water, the bodies of the people who were in the pub, all of them dead.
Part Two
to be added
Part Three
to be added
Part Four
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
- Jo Grant - Katy Manning
- Captain Yates - Richard Franklin
- Captain Cornelius - Neil Roberts
- Commander Wingford - Barnaby Edwards
- Shedgerton - David Graham
- Europan Leader - Rachel Bavidge
- Europan - Jez Fielder
Uncredited
- Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nicholas Courtney (archive recording)
References
- Jo mentions Peladon.
- Jo mentions the Time Lords fixing the TARDIS.
- Mike Yates is temporarily standing in for the Brigadier whilst he is in Geneva.
Notes
- This story was recorded on 11 and 12 November 2014 at The Moat Studios.
- The Third Doctor theme tune is used, keeping with the era of the companion rather than the era of the Doctor.
Continuity
- Jo tests the Doctor by asking him why his first three incarnations were brought together. (TV: The Three Doctors) She also tests him by asking him on which planet did she pretend to be a princess. (TV: The Curse of Peladon)
External links
- Official The Defectors page at bigfinish.com
